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OPINION

Valley Voice: Lifting of wildlife trophy ban would be unacceptable

James Randall Chumbley, Special to The Desert Sun
Published 8:00 a.m. PT Nov. 21, 2017

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The Trump administration is lifting a federal ban on importing body parts from African elephants shot for sport in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Officials say the move will enhance the survival of the species by raising money for conservation programs. (Nov. 16)
AP

I am looking at a picture of Donald Trump, Jr. holding the severed tail of an elephant in one hand with the knife in the other that he obviously used for the deed.

I see a butcher.

I see a man no better than someone who has taken a human life in cold blood. I see a monster. I see a cold-blooded murderer.

I’m sure in his isolated world of privilege, he sees it differently. I wonder: What makes him or anyone else think they have any right to kill a beautiful animal for sport?

It is an outrage, especially with the recent news that Zimbabwe and Zambia have shockingly lifted their ban on trophy hunting and — even more so — that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to allow the importation of the remains of elephants and other exotic animals into the United States with the support of the president, at least initially.

Even consideration of such action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and President Trump is incomprehensible. I believe this shows a total and extreme lack of character by the agency, the President and anyone that would think doing such a thing is acceptable, including the aforementioned hunter Donald Trump Jr.

I know this move is on hold for the moment, but my concern is that, chances are, the ban will be lifted at some point without the American people knowing about it.

Animals are not on this earth for the pleasure or the entertainment and will of mankind. Man has already done enough damage to the world we share with animals and the like.

We should be good stewards and protect these magnificent and beautiful creatures that are gifts to our planet.

I am telling my senators, representative, the director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and President Trump (although I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears in his case) to never allow the importation of animal remains from the kills of trophy hunters into the United States. Instead, they must do all they can to show the world that the slaughter of these animals must come to an end.